Talking Book Device
Scenarios and Requirements
of functional elements only
(not design or shell materials)
11 November 2007
Scenarios 2
Common Scenarios 2
Information Scenarios 7
Literacy Scenarios 11
Other Scenarios 15
Talking Book Device Functional Requirements 16
Storage Requirements 16
Content Storage 16
Software Storage 16
Play and Navigation Requirements 16
Simple Content Operations 16
Complex Content Operations 16
Input / Output Requirements 17
Recording New Content 17
Audio Output 17
Transferring Content 17
Indicators and Instruction Requirements 18
Visual Indicators 18
Auditory Indicators / Instruction 18
Power Requirements 19
Scenarios
Common Scenarios
CS1. Out of The Box (OOTB) - The user has just purchased the Talking Book device, opened the box, inserted the included batteries into the device, turned the power on, and listens to the “Welcome Message”.
Functional Requirements:
· The device can be turned on/off. [PR1]
· The device has an on/off indicator light.[IR1]
· The device can play recorded audio. [NR1]
· The device has a “Welcome Message” that is permanent (non-erasable). [IR5]
· The “Welcome Message” contains a recording of instructions on the operation of the device. [IR6]
CS2. Info/Help - The user does not remember how to find a particular recording. He listens to a message from the device to refresh his memory on the operating instructions. He can also hear the name of the currently selected content module, the currently selected page in that content module, and the any instructions specific to the module (e.g. the way a literacy exercise uses multiple-choice buttons).
Functional Requirements:
· The “Info/Help Message” is easily accessible at all times. [IR8]
o It is played via a special button, or it is always the first track of audio?
· The device can aurally indicate content module's title upon pressing status button during playback or pause. [IR7]
CS3. Content Discovery (on device) - The user wants to find the content module of the micro-credit lending process on the device. She jumps through the content modules, listens to the beginning of each module title and skips to the next one until she finds it.
Functional Requirements:
· The device can skip to the next or previous content module. [NR5]
· The device can jump back 15 seconds within a content module. [NR8]
· The device can jump forward 60 seconds within a content module. [NR9]
· The device can dynamically speed up content playback (with or without constant pitch) based on user control from 100% to 200% [NR11]
CS4. Listening to Content - The user turns on the device, locates the micro-credit application process descriptions, and starts to listen it using the device’s built-in speaker. When the room got too noisy, he plugs the earphone into the device and listens to it via the earphone. He is excited by the prospect of getting a micro-loan, and wants to tell other villagers about it --- he gathers them in the village’s open meeting area, and uses the Talking Book device to broadcast FM signal to a radio with a well-powered and loud speaker so that the whole group can hear the recording.
Functional Requirements:
· The device can play the audio on its built-in speaker. [AR2]
· The device has a standard plug for an earphone, and can play the audio to the earphone only. [AR3]
· The device can play the audio and broadcast it as FM signal. The FM frequency can be adjusted. [AR4]
CS5. Recording Simple Content - The farmer wants to record and publicize a new fertilizing schedule of maize that he has used successfully last year. He estimates that he needs to speak for about 15 minutes to fully describe the method. He will describe the new method in 3 sections: (1) Summary of the new vs. old method (2) Benefits of the new method (3) Detailed step by step explanation. He checks his Talking Book device to make sure it has sufficient memory available for at least 15 minutes of recording. This is a simple content module in the sense that although it contains segmentation of pages and lines, it does not contain audio hyperlinks or interaction questions to the listener. In the process of recording, he can choose a particular line, page or the entire module, and either erase it or overwrite it by recording a new segment.
Functional Requirements:
· The device has a built-in microphone for audio input. [RR1]
· The device has a connector where an external microphone can be plugged in. [RR2]
· A user can record audio using the device and its microphone for input. [RR3]
· While recording, a user can use the device to make digital note of segments of the audio by marking them as a module, a page within a module, or a line within a page. [RR4]
· A user can erase a line, a page, or a module. [SR3]
· A user can record over a line, a page, or a module. [RR5]
· A user can record a new line and insert it into the beginning, middle or end of an existing page. [RR6]
· A user can record a new page and insert it into the beginning, middle or end of an existing module. [RR7]
CS6. Recording Complex Content
Complex content are audio module that involves audio hyperlinks or interactive audio content. The basic Talking Book devices will not need to handle this scenario. At this point, let's plan on a computer being required to record complex content; although we may later have a deluxe Talking Book device that can record complex content.
Functional Requirements:
· N/A
CS7. Distribution of Content from Computer to Device
An NGO has collected the latest and best local maize farming methods, and has a comparison of the pros and cons of the 3 major types of fertilizers used by farmers in the region. The NGO wants to publish and distribute these 2 major pieces of information via the Talking Book system to all the villages in the region. A member of the NGO staff first uses a PC to record onto the PC, then she copies the audio content from the PC to a Talking Book device. She uses the device to check the recording.
Functional Requirements:
· The Talking Book device has a USB interface (possibly through an accessory sold separately). [TR1]
· Audio content modules can be copied from a PC to the Talking Book device that is at least 10 times faster than real-time. [TR2]
· The audio content modules can be copied to the Talking Book device in two modes: [TR3]
o Overwrite Mode
§ All the existing content already on the device, if any exists, will be overwritten.
o Append Mode
§ All the existing content already on the device, if any exists, will remain on the device. The new content copied from the PC will be added to the device.
CS8. Preloading Content onto Many New Devices
A thousand Talking Book devices have been manufactured. The standard set of audio content is being copied to all of the devices.
Functional Requirements:
· No new requirements. (True?)
CS9. Copying Content onto 1 Device to Many Devices
See scenario (1) in section Information Scenarios.
CS10. Distribution of Content through Village Kiosk
The user of a Talking Book device discovered and is interested in 2 content modules on the Talking Book kiosk in the village. He copies them onto his device.
Functional Requirements:
· Same as in “Distribution of Content from a PC to Device”. (Assuming the kiosk uses a PC)
CS11. Distribution of Content from Device to Device
There will be many situations when one wants to copy content from one Talking Book device to another one. For example, a farmer who has copied an explanation of the local loan application process, upon visiting a friend in another village might want to copy the content onto his friend’s device so that his friend can also listen to it, and perhaps let the others in his village know about the loan availability and application process.
Functional Requirements:
· Copy of selected audio content module from one device to another device. [TR4]
· The connection from one device to another could be (would like to know trade-offs in the 2 options) [TR6]:
o Wireless
o Wired
CS12. Distribution of Content from Mobile Phone to Device
The local NGO has set up a toll free telephone number for users to call in for healthcare information. The local village leader has a cell phone and uses it to call in for the information. He uses the phone’s earphone to connect to the Talking Book device and record the information onto the device (in real-time).
Functional Requirements:
· The device can connect to a cell phone’s ear phone connector. [RR8]
CS13. Distribution of Content by Radio
The debate between the 3 candidates for the upcoming November presidential election is being broadcast on radio. The user records the pre-debate election process information and the actual debate onto the device.
Functional Requirements:
· The device has radio reception and tuner capability. [RR9]
· The device can record the radio broadcast being received. [RR10]
CS14. Automatic Shutoff and Resuming Content
The user is interrupted during a listening session, paused the playing of the recording, and went off to the next room and did not return for more than 5 minutes.
Functional Requirements:
· If the device is turned off in the middle of a playback, it will remember the location in the content module. [PR2]
· If the device was paused and the user does not resume play within five minutes, the device will automatically shut off and remember the audio content location at which it was paused. [PR3]
· When the user turns the device back on and press play, the device will resume playing at the location where it was turned off or paused. [PR4]
CS15. Power
- Replacing non-rechargable batteries [PR5]
AA, AAA, or D - Charging rechargeable battery at kiosk [PR6]
TBS
CS16. Device Status Indicators
Functional Requirements:
- On/Off Indicator Light [IR1]
- Mode of Operation Indicator Light [IR2]
- “idle”
- “playing”
- “paused”
- “recording”
- From microphone.
- From another device or PC.
- From radio.
CS17. Updating Talking Book Device Software
Should this be a feature at all? In other words, should this be needed, or should the device be designed to be similar to a CD player in the sense that no software update in the field is expected?
Functional Requirements:
· The Talking Book Device software can be updated from a kiosk (?) [SR4]
Information Scenarios
IS1. A Local NGO Leaves Audio Notes on HIV/AIDS and Malaria.
The Rural Aid Action Programme (RAAP) is a local NGO in the Upper West region of Ghana. After presenting an entertaining and informative puppetry show about preventing malaria and HIV/AIDS to a local village, the staff asks for people owning a Talking Book device to gather together so that RAAP can copy the audio notes of the key points presented onto their Talking Books devices for future reference. They also sell subsidized Talking Book devices to those who have not already purchased them at the local market.
Functional Requirements:
· Copy any content module from one device to multiple devices simultaneously. [TR7]
· Would like to know the trade-offs in cost and other factors between the two options of: [TR8]
a. Real-time – Possibly this is accomplished by having the FM broadcasting and FM reception and recording capability.
- Faster than real-time – wireless or wired connection?
IS2. Do-It-Yourself Village Savings and Loan Training.
While traveling back home after working in the city during the dry season, Emmanuelle stops in a village and learns of their Village Savings and Loan Association, a program developed by CARE. Interested in bringing this program to his village, Emmanuelle copies the audio instructions for starting this program from the village kiosk onto his Talking Book device.
Functional Requirements:
· Look up content module at kiosk (not a device requirement)
· Copy a 3-6 MB content module from kiosk to Talking Book device in
< 10 minutes [TR9]
IS3. Ministry of Food and Agriculture Extends Capacity of Technical Training.
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) has a small office in one of the poorest rural districts in the country. The staff of eight field officers, equipped with only seven motorbikes, is expected to provide the latest agricultural technical advice to all the district's farmers, 97% of whom are illiterate. To reach more farmers on their limited budget, they record an audio narration to their already-developed flip chart presentation. They now serve three times as many farmers by making two passes through a circuit of villages: first to drop off the a flip chart and a Talking Book device with the narration, and a second pass to pick up the flip chart and answer any questions.
Functional Requirements:
· record simple content module [RR3]
IS4. Gender Rights Group Explains How to File Domestic Violence Complaints.
A gender rights group discovers the reason why a large number domestic violence complaints are reported but not pursued: the victims, most of whom have weak reading skills, do not understand how to navigate the required legal processes. The group finds a lawyer willing to record an interview describing what victims need to know. Next, they submit the recorded program to the organization that manages the Talking Book distribution network for their country, which is a local NGO affiliated with Literacy Bridge. Within days, it is listed in village kiosks around the country as a new program available for no charge. Individuals and other groups use the interview to help victims of domestic violence.
Functional Requirements:
· record simple content module [RR3]
· copy any content module from one device to another device in real time [TR4]
· content submitted by trusted organization is distributed quickly to all kiosks (not a device requirement)
IS5. Anti-Corruption Organization Educates Citizen Lobbyists.
The Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), a chapter of Transparency International, has worked for years on getting a piece of anti-corruption legislation to a vote in Parliament. As the vote approaches, GII records a reading of their latest newsletter that explains what the proposed legislation would do and encourages all citizens to contact their MPs and ask for their support.
Functional Requirements: